Warning lights and chimes:Make sure that all
warning lights and chimes are operating prop-
erly.
Windshield defroster: Check that the air comes
out of the defroster outlets properly and in
sufficient quantity when operating the heater or
air conditioner.
Windshield wiper and washer*: Check that the
wipers and washer operate properly and that
the wipers do not streak.
Under the hood and vehicle
The maintenance items listed here should be
checked periodically (for example, each time
you check the engine oil or refuel).
Battery*: Check the fluid level in each cell. It
should be between the MAX and MIN lines.
Vehicles operated in high temperatures or un-
der severe condition require frequent checks of
the battery fluid level.
Brake fluid level*: Make sure that the brake
fluid level is between the MAX and MIN lines on
the reservoir.
Engine coolant level*: Check the coolant level
when the engine is cold. Engine drive belts*:
Make sure that no belt is
frayed, worn, cracked or oily.
Engine oil level*: Check the level after parking
the vehicle on a level spot and turning off the
engine. Wait more than 15 minutes for the oil to
drain back into the oil pan.
Exhaust system: Make sure there are no loose
supports, cracks or holes. If the sound of the
exhaust seems unusual or there is a smell of
exhaust fumes, immediately have the exhaust
system inspected by an INFINITI retailer. (See
“PRECAUTIONS WHEN STARTING AND DRIVING”
in the “5. Starting and driving” section for
exhaust gas (carbon monoxide).)
Fluid leaks: Check under the vehicle for fuel, oil,
water or other fluid leaks after the vehicle has
been parked for a while. Water dripping from
the air conditioner after use is normal. If you
should notice any leaks or if gasoline fumes are
evident, check for the cause and have it cor-
rected immediately.
Power steering fluid level* and lines: Check the
level when the fluid is cold, with the engine off.
Check the lines for proper attachment, leaks,
cracks, etc. Radiator and hoses:
Check the front of the
radiator and clean off any dirt, insects, leaves,
etc., that may have accumulated. Make sure the
hoses have no cracks, deformation, rot or loose
connections.
Underbody: The underbody is frequently ex-
posed to corrosive substances such as those
used on icy roads or to control dust. It is very
important to remove these substances, other-
wise rust will form on the floor pan, frame, fuel
lines and around the exhaust system. At the
end of winter, the underbody should be thor-
oughly flushed with plain water, being careful
to clean those areas where mud and dirt may
accumulate. For additional information, see
“CLEANING EXTERIOR” in the “7. Appearance
and care” section.
Windshield washer fluid*: Check that there is
adequate fluid in the reservoir.
8-4Maintenance and do-it-yourself
VK56VD ENGINE MODEL
1. Window washer fluid reservoir
2. Fuse/fusible link holder
3. Engine oil dipstick
4. Power steering fluid reservoir5. Engine oil filler cap
6. Brake fluid reservoir
7. Fuse/fusible link holder
8. Battery
9. Radiator filler cap10. Engine coolant reservoir
11. Drive belts
12. Air cleaner
SDI2585
ENGINE COMPARTMENT CHECK
LOCATIONS
8-6Maintenance and do-it-yourself
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface andapply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into the oil
pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean. Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil level. It should be within the range
1.
If the oil level is below
2, remove the oil
filler cap and pour recommended oil
through the opening. Do not overfill
3.6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil mainte-
nance intervals or during the break-in period,
depending on the severity of operating condi-
tions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly. Operat-
ing the engine with an insufficient amount of oil
can damage the engine, and such damage is
not covered by warranty.
CHANGING ENGINE OIL AND FILTER
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and
apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and support the vehicle using a suitable floor jack and safety jack stands.
●Place the safety jack stands under the
vehicle jack-up points.
● A suitable adapter should be attached to
the jack stand saddle.
5. Remove the engine undercover.
● Remove the bolts that hold the under-
cover in place.
CAUTION
Make sure the correct lifting and support
points are used to avoid vehicle damage.
SDI2531
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-9
Engine oil and filter
1. Place a large drain pan under the drainplug.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug
1with a wrench
and completely drain the oil.
CAUTION
Be careful not to burn yourself, as the engine oil
is hot.
●Waste oil must be disposed of properly.
● Check your local regulations.
4. (Perform steps 4 to 7 only when the
engine oil filter change is needed.)
Loosen the oil filter2with an oil filter
wrench. Remove the oil filter by turning it by
hand.
5. Wipe the engine oil filter mounting sur- face with a clean rag.
CAUTION
Be sure to remove any old rubber gasket re-
maining on the mounting surface of the engine.
Failure to do so could lead to engine damage.
6. Coat the gasket on the new filter with clean engine oil.
7. Screw in the oil filter clockwise until a slight resistance is felt, then tighten ad-
ditionally more than 2/3 turn.
Oil filter tightening torque:11 to 15 ft-lb
(15 to 21 N·m)
8. Clean and re-install the drain plug with a
new washer. Securely tighten the drain
plug with a wrench.
Drain plug tightening torque:22 to 29 ft-lb
(29 to 39 N·m)
Do not use excessive force.
9. Refill engine with recommended oil and install the oil filler cap securely.
CAUTION
The dipstick must be inserted in place to pre-
vent oil spillage from the dipstick hole while
filling the engine with oil.
See “CAPACITIES AND RECOMMENDED FUEL/ LU-
BRICANTS” in the “9. Technical and consumer
information” section for drain and refill capacity.
The drain and refill capacity depends on the oil
temperature and drain time. Use these specifica-
tions for reference only. Always use the dipstick
to determine the proper amount of oil in the
engine.
10. Start the engine and check for leakage around the drain plug and the oil filter.
Correct as required.
SDI2528
8-10Maintenance and do-it-yourself
11. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15minutes. Check the oil level with the
dipstick. Add engine oil if necessary.
After the operation
1. Install the engine undercover into positionas the following steps.
a. Pull the center of the small plastic clip out.
b. Hold the engine undercover into position.
c. Insert the clip through the undercover into the hole in the frame, then push the
center of the clip in to lock the clip in
place.
d. Install the other bolts that hold the un- dercover in place. Be careful not to strip
the bolts or over-tighten them.
2. Lower the vehicle carefully to the ground.
3. Dispose of waste oil and filter properly.
WARNING
●Prolonged and repeated contact with used
engine oil may cause skin cancer.
● Try to avoid direct skin contact with used oil.
If skin contact is made, wash thoroughly
with soap or hand cleaner as soon as
possible.
● Keep used engine oil out of reach of children. Contact an INFINITI retailer if replacement is
required.
CAUTION
●
Use only Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF. Do
not mix with other fluids.
● Using automatic transmission fluid other
than Genuine NISSAN Matic S ATF will cause
deterioration in driveability and automatic
transmission durability, and may damage
the automatic transmission, which is not
covered by the INFINITI new vehicle limited
warranty.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID
Maintenance and do-it-yourself8-11
3. Try to rearrange the trailer load so it isbalanced as described earlier in this sec-
tion.
●Be careful when passing other vehicles.
Passing while towing a trailer requires con-
siderably more distance than normal pass-
ing. Remember the length of the trailer must
also pass the other vehicle before you can
safely change lanes.
● Use the Tow mode or downshift the trans-
mission to a lower gear for engine braking
when driving down steep or long hills. This
will help slow the vehicle without applying
the brakes.
● Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
● Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually.
● INFINITI recommends that the cruise control
not be used while towing a trailer. ●
While towing a trailer, do not use the follow-
ing systems (if so equipped):
– the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) sys- tem
– the Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system
– the Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system
– the Distance Control Assist (DCA) system
– Intelligent Brake Assist ( IBA) system
● Some states or provinces have specific regu-
lations and speed limits for vehicles that are
towing trailers. Obey the local speed limits.
● Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness con-
nections, and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
● When launching a boat, do not allow the
water level to go over the exhaust tail pipe or
rear bumper.
● Make sure you disconnect the trailer lights
before backing the trailer into the water or
the trailer lights may burn out.
When towing a trailer, the transmission fluid
should be changed more frequently. For addi-
tional information, see the INFINITI Service and
Maintenance Guide.
TOW mode
Using TOW mode is recommended when pulling
a heavy trailer or hauling a heavy load. Push the
TOW MODE switch to activate tow mode. The
TOW MODE indicator light in the meter illumi-
nates when TOW mode is selected. Push the
TOW MODE switch again to turn TOW mode off.
TOW mode is automatically cancelled when the
ignition switch is placed in the OFF position.
TOW mode includes the following features:
● Grade logic — Adjusts transmission shifts
when pulling a trailer or hauling a load up a
grade.
● Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — automati-
cally downshifts when driving down a grade
with a trailer or heavy load to help control
vehicle speed.
Driving the vehicle in the TOW mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not
cause any damage. However, fuel economy may
be reduced and the transmission/engine driv-
ing characteristics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil should
be replaced and transmission oil/fluid should be
changed more frequently. For additional infor-
mation, see the 9. “Technical and consumer in-
formation” section later in this manual.
Technical and consumer information9-27
Child restraints................. 1-30
Booster seats ................ 1-47
LATCH system ................ 1-32
Precautions on child restraints ......1-30
Top tether strap ............... 1-34
Child safety ................... 1-28
Child safety rear door lock ...........3-6
Chimes Audible reminders ............. 2-20
Seat belt warning light and chime ....2-16
Circuit breaker, Fusible link ..........8-22
Cleaning exterior and interior .......7-2, 7-4
Climate control Automatic climate control ......4-31, 4-34
Clock ....................... 2-51
Coat hooks ................... 2-59
Cockpit ......................2-2
Cold weather driving .............5-101
Compact Disc (CD) player
(See audio system) ............... 4-57
Console box ................... 2-57
Controller, Center multi-function control
panel .......................4-3
Controls Control panel button ............4-3
INFINITI Controller ..............4-3
Coolant Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ................9-2
Changing engine coolant ..........8-8
Checking engine coolant level .......8-8
Corrosion protection ...............7-6
Cruise control .................. 5-37
Fixed speed cruise control
(on ICC system) ............... 5-58
Intelligent cruise control (ICC) system . . 5-39 Cup holders
................... 2-54
D
Daytime running light system .........2-39
Dimensions ....................9-9
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system ....5-62
Distance Control Assist (DCA) system warning
light ....................... 2-13
Dot matrix liquid crystal display .......2-21
Drive belts .................... 8-17
Drive positioner ................. 3-30
Driving Cold
weather driving ........... 5-101
Driving with automatic transmission . . . 5-15
On-pavement and off-road driving .....5-6
Precautions when starting and driving . . 5-2
Safety precautions ..............5-8
Dual head restraint DVD system .......4-83
E
Economy, Fuel ................. 5-83
Elapsed time .................. 2-27
Emission control information label ......9-11
Emission control system warranty ......9-29
Engine Before starting the engine .........5-13
Break-in schedule ............. 5-83
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ................9-2
Changing engine coolant ..........8-8
Changing engine oil and filter .......8-9
Checking engine coolant level .......8-8Checking engine oil level
..........8-9
Coolant temperature gauge . . .......2-7
Emergency engine shut off .........5-12
Engine block heater ............5-102
Engine compartment check locations . . . 8-6
Engine cooling system ...........8-7
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter
recommendation ...............9-6
Engine oil replacement indicator .....2-25
Engine oil viscosity .............9-6
Engine serial number ............9-10
Engine specifications ............9-8
Engine start operation indicator .....2-23
If your vehicle overheats ..........6-13
Oil pressure gauge .............2-8
Protection mode ............... 5-14
Starting the engine ............. 5-13
Entry/exit function, Automatic drive
positioner .................... 3-30
Event Data Recorders (EDR) ..........9-32
Exhaust gas (carbon monoxide) ........5-2
Extended storage switch ............8-23
F
F.M.V.S.S./C.M.V.S.S. certification label . . . 9-11
Filter Air cleaner housing filter ..........8-18
Changing engine oil and filter . . .....8-9
Flashers
(See hazard warning flasher switch) . ....2-43
Flat tire ......................
6-2
Flat towing ................... 9-28
Flexible seating ................. 1-16
10-2
N
New vehicle break-in .............. 5-83
O
Odometer .....................2-6
Off-road recovery .................5-7
Oil Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants ................9-2
Changing engine oil and filter .......8-9
Checking engine oil level ..........8-9
Engine oil ...................8-9
Engine oil pressure gauge .........2-8
Engine oil viscosity .............9-6
Oil filter replacement indicator ......2-25
Operation, Indicators for operation ......2-23
Outside air temperature ............2-28
Outside mirrors ................. 3-28
Overheat, If your vehicle overheats ......6-13
Owner’s Manual/Service Manual order
information ................... 9-32
P
Panic alarm ................... 3-16
Parking Brake break-in ............... 5-94
Parking brake operation ..........5-19
Parking on hills ............... 5-92
Phone Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System . . 4-96
Car phone or CB radio ...........4-95Pocket
...................... 2-58
Power Front seat adjustment ............1-2
Power door lock ...............3-4
Power outlet ................. 2-52
Power steering fluid ............8-12
Power steering system ...........5-94
Power windows ............... 2-61
Precautions Audio operation .............. 4-40
Braking precautions ............5-94
Child restraints ............... 1-30
Cruise control ................ 5-37
Driving safety .................5-8
Lane departure warning (LDW) system . . 5-20
Maintenance .................8-5
On-pavement and off-road driving .....5-6
Seat belt usage ............... 1-18
Supplemental
restraint system ......1-50
When starting and driving .........5-2
Preview function ................ 5-95
Preview Function warning light ........2-16
Push starting .................. 6-13
Push-button ignition switch ..........5-10
R
Radio ...................... 4-40
Car phone or CB radio ...........4-95
FM-AM-SAT radio with Compact Disc (CD)
player .................... 4-54
Rain-sensing auto wiper system .......2-33
Rapid air pressure loss .............5-7
Readiness for inspection/maintenance (I/M)
test........................ 9-31Rear door lock, Child safety rear door lock . . 3-6
Rear personal lights
.............. 2-66
Rear window wiper and washer switch . . . 2-34
Rear window wiper blades ..........8-20
Recorders, Event data .............9-32
Registering your vehicle in another
country ......................9-9
Remote controller (DVD) ............4-92
Remote keyless entry system .........3-15
Reporting safety defects ............9-30
Roadside assistance program . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Rollover ......................5-6
Roof Moonroof .................. 2-64
Roof rack .................. 2-60
S
Safety Child seat belts ............... 1-28
Towing safety ................ 9-21
Satellite radio operation ............4-55
Seat adjustment Front power seat adjustment ........1-2
Front seats ............... 1-2, 1-16
Seat belt(s) Child safety ................. 1-28
Infants .................... 1-29
Injured persons ............... 1-21
Larger children ............... 1-29
Precautions on seat belt usage . . ....1-18
Pregnant women .............. 1-21
Seat
belt cleaning ..............7-6
Seat belt extenders ............. 1-27
Seat belt maintenance ...........1-28
10-5